Action: Write to your MP about Israel’s boycott ban

Last week, the Knesset passed a law to ban entry to foreigners who advocate the non-violent boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

On Sunday night, the first victim of this new law was PSC chair Hugh Lanning, who was detained overnight and deported from Israel on Monday morning. In the past Hugh has been able to travel many times to visit Israel and Occupied Palestine.

Israel has always denied the rights of the Palestinian people to return to their homeland, and now it is banning those who support Palestinian rights, including the right to return.

By introducing this law, Israel is violating fundamental freedoms essential to a democracy– the right to free speech, to criticise government policies and human rights violations, the right to advocate non-violent actions to address human rights abuses, the right of free movement and travel. A democratic country does not behave in the way Israel is behaving.

As supporters of the BDS call, this law could effect all of us. If Israel believes that by introducing these draconian undemocratic laws it will intimidate its critics into silence it is mistaken. We will not stop raising our voices to highlight the systematic violation of Palestinian human rights in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel itself.